Timing gear mechanism for looms



April 20, 1965 R. D. WHlTlNG TIMING GEAR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 27, 1962 M u m n T INVENTOR. RAYMQND DEXTERWHITING A TTORNE Y P 20, 1965 R. D. WHlTlNG 3,178,954

TIMING GEAR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed NOV. 27, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. QAYMQND DEXTERWi-HTING A TTORNEY United States Patent 3,178,954 TIMWG GEAR MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Raymond Dexter Whiting, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass, a corporation of Maine Filed Nov. 27, 1962, Ser. No. 240,368 8 Claims. (Cl. 74325) This invention relates to improvements in the timing mechanism for harness cams as used in looms for weaving.

It is a general object of the invention to simplify the gearing mechanism for effecting the shedding operation.

A more specific object is that of reducing the number of necessary parts required in changing weaving styles.

A further object of the invention is that of facilitating the changing over procedure in going from one style to another and thereby reducing the stoppage time.

it is a further object to so arrange the harness cam gearing outwardly of the middle girts to be more accessible for changing and adjusting the timing gear when necessary.

It is a more specific object to narrow the distance between the laterally disposed loom girts to provide more rigid support for the harness cam shaft and to benefit from reduced wear.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a timing gear and supporting bracket of unitary construction adapted to be adjusted to mesh within a train of gears.

it is a further object to provide a supporting bracket from which the timing gear may be easily removed and replaced without the necessity of removing the bracket from its normal position.

It is a further object of the invention to devise a mating tongue and groove on the contacting surface of both the gear supporting bracket and the upright bearing member to restrict movement of the bracket to a lineal direction.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent as further details are disclosed.

In cam looms, those wherein the heddle harness frames are actuated by cams, the timing of the underneath parts is controlled through a gear train by a change gear or timing gear. The harness cams are generally mounted to rotate with an auxiliary shaft in timed relationship to the loom driving shaft to draw down each harness frame in accordance with the material style desired.

The number of harness frames suitable for such a loom may vary between two and six generally, and by changing the pattern in which they are raised and lowered, a number of cloth constructions may be produced.

It has been customary to drive the harness cams on their auxiliary shaft at a desired speed by means of a change gear or timing gear which was fastened to a constantly rotating loom shaft. The change gear was meshed with a freely rotating idle gear which in turn was in mesh with a further gear fastened to the auxiliary shaft.

At each change in cloth construction a different combination of these gears was required. In some changes all three gears had to be replaced as well as a stud and bracket in order to produce the proper ups and downs for the material desired. This has meant that mills were required to carry a stock of various gear sizes in the three different types necessary to their operation which has been costly and has made changeovens more complicated.

To overcome some of these disadvantages, a novel unit is here disclosed. Changes in harness cam timing can now be accomplished by substitution of a single gear with a resulting reduction in both loom downtime and the spare parts inventory.

The invention comprises a reducing gear suitable for a particular weave, an adjustable eccentric stud on which the gear will rotate, and a gear supporting bracket adapted to hold the reducing gear fixedly positioned to mesh with its two coacting gears. By means of an extended tongue and groove the gear bracket is adjustable in a declining lineal direction only but is restrained from any other movement so that all the gears remain in proper engagement. Even though forces should loosen the supporting bracket, the reducing gear cannot go out of mesh.

The distance between centers of the driving gear and the harness cam shaft gear remains constant so that all necessary adjustment is made with the reducing gear bracket and stud. Timing of the harness cam shaft is controlled by changing the gear ratios through substitution of only the reducing gear.

The invention will be described in greater detail by reference to a specific embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying figures of drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention as applied and seen from the rear of the loom;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the upright center bearing bracket showing the extended groove;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a reducing gear in position Within a supporting bracket showing the extended tongue; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the eccentric stud removed from the supporting bracket.

Now by reference to FIG. 1 the timing gear mechanism is shown in position in a loom with only essential parts displayed to locate the inventive portion. A loomside i1 is shown interconnected to its opposite loomside (not shown) by a front girt 12 and a back girt 13. Laterally extended between the front and back girts are two middle girts l4 and 15 which support the loom underneath pulldown parts with only those necessary to the disclosure being shown.

Heddle harness frames 16 support jack sticks 17 by supporting wire hooks i8 and all are shown suspended in their normal location above the underneath parts. A constantly rotating driven shaft 19, in this case the loom cam shaft, is used for driving the timing gear means generally designated 2%. A pinion 21 is fastened to rotate with shaft 19 and is the driving end of this gear train. It will now be unnecessary to remove pinion 21 when changing cioth constructions.

Extending upward from the intermediate portion of each middle girt 14 and 15 and fastened thereto are two upright center bearing brackets 22 and 23. Shaft center bearings 24 and 25 for supporting shaft 19 are fastened to upright brackets 22 and 23 as with bolts 26.

A harness cam shaft 27 is supported by bearings 23 and 29 fastened to the upper surface of the middle girts. Harness cams 3% are fastened to rotate with shaft 27 when turned by gear 31 which is securely fixed to an extended end 32 of shaft 27.

An idler gear is, in this instance, also a reducing gear 33 and serves to transmit power from the pinion 21 to the harness cam shaft gear 31. Reducing gear 33 as shown is one of a series of five gears which may be interchanged to time the harness cams 30 for the complete range from the two-shade to the six-shade condition. The reducing gear is a combination of two gears of unitary construction in which one side is in mesh with pinion 21 and the inner side is in mesh with gear 31. In a step by step ratio variation, that is, by a gradual increase in diameter of the outer portion combined with a decrease in the diameter of the inner portion, a proper reduction in rotation ratio between the pinion and the driven gear will be developed. By inserting the reducing gear for the desired shade condition and adjusting its center in relation to the two fixed center gears, the required rotating speed will be obtained.

Now with reference to FIG. 3, reducing gear 33 is seen in position within a U-shaped supporting member 34 comprised of a flat planar forward surface and two extended legs, the opposing ends of which have concentric openings 35 to support a stud to be later explained. The left side of supporting member 34 as seen in FIG. 3 is adapted for two bolts or other fastening means through holes 36 and 37. An extended raised tongue 38 is machined on the side of supporting member 34 between holes 36 and 37. This tongue 38 is intended to be insertable into a groove 39 machined in the outward side of bracket 23 (FIG. 2). On either side of the groove 39 are two slotshaped openings 40 and 41 for bolting, or fastening in some manner, the supporting bracket 34. Groove 39 is extended downwardly and rearwardly as viewed from the front of the loom and may be inclined at approximately 35 from the vertical.

When the supporting bracket 34 is placed so that tongue 38 will slide in groove 39, bolts may be hand tightened through openings 36, 37, 40, and 41. It is in this somewhat loosened condition that the reducing gear 33 may be easily removed.

A stud generally designated 42 (FIG. 4) is comprised of a small supporting end 43 and a large supporting end 44. These ends are cylindrical and concentric and are designed to pass through the concentric openings 35, one of which is larger than that shown in FIG. 3. The intermediate portion 45 of stud 42 is a further cylindrical section eccentric to the ends 43 and 44. The reduction gear 33 is freely rotatable on the eccentric portion 45 of the stud and may be lubricated by a fitting 46 in the squared adjusting end 47. Stud 42 is secured in position by set screws 48 at either end of supporting member 34 (FIG. 1).

There are two means of adjusting the reducing gear 33 to mesh properly with the pinion 21 and the driven gear 31, the first being the sliding adjustment of the supporting bracket 34 restrained by the extended groove 39. The second adjusting means is that of rotating the eccentric stud 42 which will allow deviations of the reducing gears center line within a small radius. The adjustable range of these two methods is sufiicient to allow the use of any one in a series of reducing gears for all variations of the six-shade conditions of weaving.

Where a change in harness cams requires a corresponding change in timing, it is possible to accomplish it by the substitution of one reducing gear. Set screw 48 should be loosened and the bolts through slots 40 and 41 loosened to allow slight motion upward or downward within the groove 39 of the bracket 34. Stud 42 may then be drawn horizontally from the bracket 34 to release and drop reducing gear 33. The selected new gear may then be held in place and the above procedure reversed.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. Harness cam and timing gear means for looms having in combination a constantly rotating driven shaft in said loom, a pinion on said driven shaft, a cam shaft with a plurality of cams mounted thereon, a gear on said cam shaft, an interchangeable reducing gear adapted to mesh with said pinion and said cam shaft gear, an adjustable stud comprising two concentric end portions for journaling said stud and an eccentric intermediate portion for free rotation of said reducing gear, a supporting means for said stud and said reducing gear mounted adjustably and removably as a unit, said supporting means formed as a generally U-shaped member comprising a flat planar surface connecting two extended essentially parallel legs.

2. In a loom having a constantly rotating driven shaft,

front and back girts, interconnecting middle girts between said front and back girts, upright center bearing brackets for said driven shaft, a harness cam and timing gear means which comprises a pinion on said driven shaft, a cam shaft with a plurality of cams mounted thereon, a gear on said cam shaft, an interchangeable reducing gear adapted to mesh with said pinion and said cam shaft gear, an adjustable stud with concentric end portions for journaling said stud and an eccentric intermediate portion for free rotation of said reducing gear, bearings mounted on each said middle girt for said cam shaft, one end of said cam shaft extended outwardly beyond said cam shaft bearing to support said gear, said pinion being mounted on said driven shaft outwardly of one of said upright brackets, a supporting means for said stud and said reducing gear adjustably mounted to the outward side of said one upright bracket, said supporting means formed as a generally U-shaped member comprising a fiat planar surface connecting two extended essentially parallel legs.

3. Mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said one upright bracket includes an extended groove, and said supporting means has an extended tongue member adapted to be positioned within the extent of said groove.

4. Mechanism as defined in claim 2 wherein said groove and said tongue extend angularly rearward and downward in relation to the front of the loom.

5. In a loom having a constantly rotating driven shaft, a pinion on said driven shaft, a cam shaft with a plurality of cams mounted thereon, a gear on said cam shaft, a harness cam timing means which comprises a reducing gear adapted to mesh with said pinion and said cam shaft gear, said reducing gear being interchangeable with others to vary the driving ratio between said pinion and said cam shaft gear, an adjustable stud on which said reducing gear is free to rotate including two concentric journal end portions and an eccentric intermediate portion for rotation of said reducing gear, and a removable adjustable supporting means for said stud and said reducing gear, said supporting means being adapted to adjust for proper meshing of the gears.

6. Harness cam and timing gear means for looms having in combination a constantly rotating driven shaft in said loom, a pinion on said driven shaft, a cam shaft with a plurality of cams mounted thereon, a gear on said cam shaft, upright center bearing brackets with bearing means for supporting said cam shaft at spaced points adjacent the center portion thereof, an interchangeable reducing gear adapted to mesh with said pinion and said cam shaft gear to control the speed of rotation of the latter gear, an adjustable stud on which said reducing gear is free to rotate, and a removable supporting means for said stud and reducing gear adjustably mounted to the outward side of one of said upright center bearing brackets.

7. Harness cam and timing gear means for looms having in combination a constantly rotating driven shaft in said loom, a pinion on said driven shaft, a cam shaft with a plurality of cams mounted thereon, a gear on said cam shaft, an interchangeable reducing gear adapted to mesh with said pinion and said cam shaft gear to control the speed of rotation of said cam shaft gear, an adjustable stud having an eccentric intermediate portion on which said reducing gear is adapted to rotate and said stud including concentric end portions adapted to be supported by and selectively rotatable in aligned apertures provided in an adjustable and removable supporting means whereby said reducing gear through the combination of the eccentric portion of said stud and the adjustable supporting means therefore is selectively movable into and out of meshing relation with said pinion and said first mentioned gear.

8. In combination a harness cam timing gear supporting means for looms which comprises an upright center bearing bracket, a reducing gear support adapted to be removably and adjustably fastened to said bracket, said 6 support being formed as a generally U-shaped member References Qited by the Examiner comprising a flat planar surface connecting two extended, UNITED STATES PATENTS essentially parallel legs, an elongated tongue protruding from the outward surface of one of said legs and eX- 2,005,070 6/35 BltZeF 74567 X tending in an angular direction relative thereto, a match- 5 2,237,466 4/41 Zimmefmalm 7 325 ing groove in the outer surface of said bracket adapted 9 ,606 2/ 50 Hyland 74-325 X to receive said tongue, said groove and tongue being 2,585,218 2/52 Borngraeber 74--325 formed to restrict said support to linear adjustment, and 2,735,309 2/56 Tew 74325 fastening means for fixedly positioning the tongue of said 2,792,713 5/57 Beck et al 74-325 support at any desired position within the limits of said 10 matching groove. DON A. WAITE, Primary Examiner. 

1. HARNESS CAM AND TIMING GEAR MEANS FOR LOOMS HAVING IN COMBINATION A CONSTANTLY ROTATING DRIVEN SHAFT IN SAID LOOM, A PINION ON SAID DRIVEN SHAFT, A CAM SHAFT WITH A PLURALITY OF CAMS MOUNTED THEREON, A GEAR ON SAID CAM SHAFT, AN INTERCHANGEABLE REDUCING GEAR ADAPTED TO MESH WITH SAID PINION AND SAID CAM SHAFT GEAR, AN ADJUSTABLE STUD COMPRISING TWO CONCENTRIC END PORTIONS FOR JOURNALING SAID STUD AND AN ECCENTRIC INTERMEDIATE PORTION FOR FREE ROTATION OF SAID REDUCING GEAR, A SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SAID STUD AND SAID REDUCING GEAR MOUNTED AD- 